Feed-water regulator for boilers.



PATENTED JUNE 7, 1904. E. B. NICHOLS z T. R. WHIT'I'AKER. FEED WATER REGULATOR POR BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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Patented June '7, 1904:l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT B. NICHOLS AND TBOMAS R. VHITTAKER, OF METHUEN,

. MASSACHUSETTS.

FEED-WATER REGULATOR FoF BOILERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Yof Letters Patent No. 762,188, dated June '7, 1904.

Application filed July 25, 1903. Serial No. 167,017. (No model.)

To LU whom, t ma/ z/ concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT B. NICHOLS and flHouAs R. l/lfHITTAKER, citizens of the United States, residing at Methuen, `in the county of Lawrence and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Feed-Water Regulators for Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in feed-water regulators for boilers; and its object is to provide a simple device which may be readily connected to a boiler and which will maintain the water within the boiler at the same level.

Another object of the device is to provide a Valve of novel construction operated by water admitted from the boiler and which is so constructed as to automatically close the inlet to the boiler when the water reaches a predetermined level.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in providing a receptacle Within which is arranged a valve-casing having an inlet from a feed-pump and an outlet to a boiler. The valve is normally open and is connected to a ioat which is arranged within the receptacle and outside the valvecasing. A pipe is provided for conducting water from a point below the Water-line of the boiler to the receptacle in which the iioat is located, and a steam-conducting pipe communicates with the upper portions of the boiler and receptacle, respectively. K

rlhe invention also consists in thefurther novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of our invention, and in Which-- Figure lis an elevation of our improved feed-regulator, the same being shown connected to a boiler. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the regulator; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3 3, Fig. 2, the same being broken away and showing the valve open.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a receptacle formed of any suitable material and so arranged as to be in alinement with the water-line of the boiler to which it is connected. The upper portion of this receptacle is connected to the upper portion of a boiler 2 by means of a steam-conducting pipe 3, and the lower portion of the receptacle is connected to the boiler 2 at a point below the Water-line by means of a water-conducting pipe 4.

Arranged within the receptacle 1 isa valvecasing 5, having a U-shaped .partition 6 therein, provided with apertures 7, which are arranged in alinement with each other. .A pipe 8 opens into the compartment 9, formed by the U-shaped partition, and this pipe extends from a feed-pump (not shown) and is provided with a suitable strainer 10 for preventing the admission of foreign substances to the valvecasing. The other compartment, 11, formed by partition 7, communicates with an outletpipe 12, which opens into the boiler 2 at a point below the water-line.

The valve-casing 5 is provided with an eX- ternally-threaded aperture 13 in its upper face and in which is arranged a plug 14, having a passage 15 extending therethrough. Vithin this passage is mounted a rod 16, upon which are secured valves 17, which are in the form of disks, one of said valves being arranged in the compartment 9, while the other is in compartment 11. The rod 16 extends through the upper aperture 7, and the valves 17 are so spaced apart as to simultaneously open or close the apertures when the rod is moved. A fioat 18 is connected to a lever 19, Vwhich in turn is pivoted Ato rod 16, and this float is located Within the receptacle 1.

When it is desired to feed water to the boiler, the valve 2O in. the feed-pipe 8 is opened and water passes through the strainer l() into the compartment 9. From this compartment it fiows through one or both of the apertures 7 into the outer compartment 11 in the valve-casing and thence through pipe -12 to the boiler. After the water rises within the boiler above the outlet end of pipe 4 it flows into said pipe and finally therethrough into the receptacle 1, thereby gradually'I moving the float 18 and lever 19 upward until the two valves 17 are moved into position over the apertures 7, thereby shutting ofi1 the supply of water from pipe 8 to pipe 12. As

IOO

steam is generated within the boiler the same will pass through the pipe 3 into the receptacle l, and the pressure upon the water there and within the boiler will thus be equalized. It will be obvious that as th'e water within the `boiler falls below the water-line the ioat 18 will move downward therewith, thereby opening the apertures 7 and permitting an additional supply of water to pass through valve-casing 5 and into the boiler. It will be seen that this form of feed-regulator is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction and dispenses with the use of springs, weights, and other undesirable elements which are ordinarily employed in devices of this character.

In the foregoing description we have shown the preferred form of our invention; but we do not limit ourselves thereto, as we are aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and we therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of our invention.

Having thus described the invention, what V tacle in alinement with the water-line thereof, a valve-casing within the receptacle, a partition in said casing forming compartments, said partition having' alining apertures therein, a water-inlet to one of the compartments, a water-outlet to the other compartment and communicating with the boiler, a valve within each compartment, a rod connected to the valve, said valve being in alinement with the apertures, a plug detachably secured within the casing and forming a guide for the rod, a washer clamped upon the plug, an arm eX- tending from the washer, a slotted lever fulcrumed upon the arm and connected to the rod, a float secured to the lever and movable within the receptacle, a tubular connection between the receptacle and the boiler for conducting water to the receptacle, and means for conlducting steam from the boiler to the receptac e.

In testimony whereof we afix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

HERBERT B. NICHOLS. THOMAS R. NVHITTAKER. Witnesses:

THOMAS J. DoRoN, JULIAN E. MCKAY. 

